The
term compact
SUV
may not
generate much excitement but when
you cast your eye over Peugeots
2008 you get
it instantly...

IF A FULL-BLOWN 4X4 IS THE T-REX of off-roaders, then a compact SUV is the
sleeker, more agile Velociraptor. Which makes 'macho' yesterday's news; today's
ComSuv (Compact SUV) customers prefer taste to testosterone.

Following its recent facelift the 2008 now looks even more 'tasty': its sportingly
handsome kerb appeal instantly catches your eye  and it really dazzles
finished in the Ultimate Red or Emerald metallic. That said it does look good
in white  the UK's favourite colour for the past four years.

The nose is defined by a wide, upright chrome-and-black grille flanked by artfully
styled and very striking headlights that cut into the front wings and the edges
of the slim, clam-style bonnet with great effect.

It's a clever piece of kit and you're in full control of it  leave it
in its default Standard setting or, at any time, using the dial located on the
centre console just behind the gearlever, select instead Mud, Sand, Snow or
ESP Off. It's brilliantly user-friendly, and it works perfectly.

Getting behind the wheel of a 2008, you'll be pleased to know, is a very affordable
business thanks to prices starting from £13,970 and topping out at £20,920 for
the flagship GT Line model.

Power can be either four-cylinder 1.6-litre BlueHDi turbodiesel or three-pot
1.2 PureTech petrol. While there are plenty of good things about the turbodiesel,
the more refined 128bhp (130hp) 1.2 PureTech holds the performance edge and
its willingness to perform marks it out as the more entertaining to drive. For
the record the diesel engine comes with 75, 100, or 120hp; the three-cylinder
PureTech 'International Engine of the Year 2016' petrol units offer 82 as well
as 110 and 130hp.

Big-hearted small-capacity engines are not just for compact cars; these days
you'll also find them powering large saloon and estate cars. In the 2008, Peugeot's
128bhp three-pot is good for 124mph with crisp acceleration off the line to
62mph (in just 9.3 seconds). Away from the paper figures and on the road, it
serves up lively mid-range acceleration with plenty of flexibility and grunt.
And when you're pressing on, the clean-changing gearlever action makes it easy
to keep the PureTech in its sweet spot.

And whereas the diesels only come with a five-speed manual gearbox, the 128bhp
petrol unit is mated to a six-speeder which means unstressed motorway cruising.
A week with MotorBar's team saw 46.3mpg recorded, and which is definitely
good for your pocket; as too is the road tax  nothing to pay for the first
year and then just an annual £20.

So,
will the average driver get closer to the official combined cycle figure of
58.9mpg? As we tend to bomb around in our quest for 'real-life' consumption
figures, the answer is quite likely Yes. Given the driveability the 1.2 three-pot
brings to the ownership experience, we'd say that the near-50mpg we recorded
was more than acceptable.

Climb
aboard and you
realise something else
too  its very spacious
with generous
headroom.
The seats are really
inviting and almost
whisper Sit in me!
Upholstered in a silky, mesh-textured fabric
with two-tone black
cloth-and-grey
leather bolsters, theyre
deeply cushioned
and truly comfy and
supportive...

In
keeping with all the current crop of Peugeot products, the 2008's classy cabin
is a joy to behold; the cabin really is of upmarket calibre, with multi-texture
and multi-finish trim and a smattering of satin chrome highlights with seats
that are as comfortable as they look. And boy, do they look good.

Climb aboard and you realise something else too  it's very spacious with
generous headroom. The seats are really inviting and almost whisper 'Sit in
me!' Upholstered in a silky, mesh-textured fabric with two-tone black cloth-and-grey
leather bolsters, they're deeply cushioned and truly comfy and supportive. Even
four-hour-long journeys in chaotic pre-Christmas traffic didn't take the edge
off their comfort.

Long trips using the cruise control were made even more relaxing by the nicely-angled
left foot rest. Not only will the driver be totally satisfied, but so will anyone
riding shotgun as they will have even more room to stretch out.

The highlight for many drivers will be Peugeot's i-Cockpit which comes with
a compact sports steering wheel (with a very tactile leather rim) and
a 7-inch infotainment touchscreen; the dials are viewed over the top of the
wheel rim and not through it  which sounds strange until you sit in the
car and then you think Great idea!

On top of that you'll enjoy a fine driving position and excellent all-round
visibility that even without the optional reversing camera makes parking a no-brainer.
Tick the £500 box for the Park Assist pack and you get front and rear parking
sensors, a reversing camera, and an electronic parking jockey who will parallel
park for you.

A nice touch: the climate control strip is separate from the touchscreen, which
makes for easier adjustment on the hoof. There are also plenty of storage areas
including cupholders, deep lidded bins, practical door pockets, plus a chilled
glovebox.

Also
extremely easy to use is the aviation style handbrake  with your palm
on top of the flat paddle, close your fingers under it to release. And another
chic touch: the laser-cut 'slashed' headlining with ambient backlighting and
LED blue perimeter edging on the two dials either side of the driver's display,
that along with a digital speed readout shows all the usual trip info including
graphic SatNav guidance.

When
it comes to
carrying anything other
than people, the 2008
is more than up to the
task  its impressive
410-litre boot is regularly
shaped for maximum
usage; fold down the
60:40-split rear seatbacks
and you create
a capacious 1,400-litre
loadbay. All of this
within a compact on-road
footprint measuring
a smidgen
over four metres...

Exactly
how you choose to fill your 2008's five seats is entirely up to you; if you're
an empty nester the three back seats and accommodating boot will spell good
news for days out with the grandchildren  however, if you'd much rather
drive down to a Warner's no-kids-allowed hotel then it's equally suitable for
two couples to travel in comfort.

Entry
to (and exit from) the rear cabin is oh-so-easy. Once there passengers sit about
four inches higher than those in front but still have a fist of headroom, plenty
of foot room and good wriggle-room for leg comfort whilst sitting in well-padded
seats. Big windows ensure panoramic views out, and although there is no central
armrest those on the doors are well sited. And it's nice, too, to find genuinely
usable door bins.

When it comes to carrying anything other than people, the 2008 is more than
up to the task  its impressive 410-litre boot is regularly shaped for
maximum usage; fold down the 60:40-split rear seatbacks and you create a capacious
1,400-litre loadbay. All of this within a compact on-road footprint measuring
a smidgen over four metres.

An added bonus is that Peugeot have thought it through: they've made sure the
back seats fold down totally flat for maximum practicality and that there's
a low rear bumper-sill with no lip to lift items over  just slide the
stuff in over the seamless cargo-bay floor all the way to the backs of the front
seats.

And if you don't fancy getting your boot dirty, you can tow a braked 1,250kg.
For the record, a space-saver spare wheel can be found below the boot floor.
And there's an effective rear wash/wipe.

An
options box worth ticking (£700) is that for the SatNav, which includes Connect
SOS: it automatically makes an emergency call if the airbags inflate or the
seatbelt pre-tensioners are triggered by an accident; alternatively, the driver
can make a manual emergency or assistance call.

With
its higher ground
clearance and
Grip Control system
(aided by all-weather
tyres) the 2008 is well-
prepped to tackle
anything from muddy
fields and tracks
and flooded roads
to that loved by kids
everywhere
white stuff...

For an additional £250 you can specify Active City Brake that at speeds below
20mph warns of potential collisions and emergency brakes for the driver if he
or she fails to react in time.

Recently
we seem to have experienced quite a lot of foul weather which is, ironically,
perfect when putting the cars through their paces, particularly when it comes
to assessing the handling.

With its higher ground clearance and Grip Control system, and aided by all-weather
tyres, the 2008 is well-prepped to tackle anything from muddy fields and tracks
and flooded roads (all of which we had to tackle during our test) to that 'loved
by kids everywhere' white stuff.

The 2008's steering is sharp  it feels almost kart-like-quick due to the
smaller than average steering wheel that repays a small movement with a large
correction  and it's a well-judged match for the nimble, confidence-inspiring
handling. It's also great for parking!

Equally appreciated is the ride: comfortable  and agreeably so. The suspension
will soak up impacts on pothole-damaged blacktop without ruffling you or your
passengers. And, of course, the superb front seats provide some serious secondary
cushioning.

Interestingly, figures just in show that the continuing SUV boom was the overwhelming
trend of 2016, when SUV registrations set a new record by accounting for one
in every four cars sold throughout Europe  that's 3.9 million SUVs and
well up on 2015's 3.2 million.